Joining the chorus of concern about the proposal to create 93 homes on the Harrow House school site in Swanage, local celebrity Jonathan Ross has added his voice saying that the plan is “distressing”.
He’s backing other neighbours who are also against the proposed redevelopment of the five acre site and adds that he’s “concerned about the change to the fabric of local life.”
Jonathan Ross’s home is next door (left) to Harrow House (centre)
Proposed 93 homes
The outline planning permission application plans to convert the Arts and Crafts school building into 14 flats, along with building 41 terraced houses and 38 apartments on the school grounds including the sports pitches. Of the 93 homes, 10 percent are proposed to be classed as affordable.
Harrow House, reached via Walrond Road, is a prominent landmark, positioned on top of a hill, enjoying far reaching countryside and sea views across Swanage.
It was built in 1912 as Oldfield School and later became part of Swanage Grammar School. In 1979 when the grammar school closed, the five acre site was sold and it reopened as Harrow International School.
It housed around 500 live-in students and was a major source of employment for many years until it closed during the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Jonathan Ross pictured here in 2008 with Swanage Carnival volunteers has been a long term supporter of the local community
“Our property would be directly overlooked”
In a formal submission to Dorset Council planners, Jonathan Ross writes:
“Building up the height of the current buildings would mean that our property would be directly overlooked. We have bedrooms that face towards the proposed development and the loss of privacy would be very distressing and cause a great deal of stress.
“We are also concerned about the change to the fabric of local life caused by so many new dwellings in the area, and the direct impact on traffic and amenities.
“We’ve been approached many times by developers asking to buy our land for the same purpose and refuse because we are conscious of the impact it would have on the entire community.
“Building work on this scale would have a negative impact on wildlife.”
Harrow House in 2020 when it ceased to operate as a language school
“Profit driven exercise”
His damning assessment of the developer’s plans is echoed by other neighbours. One person in nearby Caldron Crescent writes:
“As a neighbour to this proposal I have several observations to make. The amended proposal has buildings almost to the edge of the site boundary. Being an elevated site, this will allow the new residents a clear view down into the existing properties and gardens meaning a complete loss of privacy. It will also mean blocking sunlight.
“The proposal is an example of over development in an unsuitable location. Access to the site is poor and the proposed parking provision is unrealistic and inadequate. Traffic on Northbrook road has already increased substantially since the recent development there.
“I do not oppose development on the site but it should be carried out in a way sympathetic to existing neighbours to produce quality homes away from the site boundary, not a profit driven exercise forced on local people.”
The prosposed plans for the site
“Walrond Road is completely unfit “
Access for the 93 homes is proposed to be via Walrond Road. A neighbour writes:
“This development will have a direct impact on the surrounding area in terms of extra traffic, congestion, noise and disturbance. Having just endured four years of the Compass Point heavy plant passing all day every day we just can’t see how this can now be allowed to start again.
“The access road (being named as) Walrond Road is completely unfit for these lorries, being a narrow lane with parking all down one side which is nearly always full of cars and is a quiet residential cul de sac.
“The junction with Northbrook Road is extremely dangerous with poor visibility due to the parked cars and camper vans near to the corner and consistently speeding cars and lorries coming up and down this hill.”
The entrance is via Walrond Road
Not enough affordable housing
Other objectors say they are concerned that there isn’t enough affordable housing, and that the current infrastructure like the doctors surgery and NHS dentist practice is already struggling to cope with the local demand.
Not all object to development of the site but so far no one has written to Dorset Council in support of the current plans.
Architect’s impression of how the development will look
“High-quality, attractive, sensitive, new development”
In a statement accompanying the application, the planning consultants representing Harrow House said:
“Overall, the application proposals represent an opportunity to deliver a high-quality, attractive, sensitive, new development within Swanage providing housing, including affordable homes, new public open space and landscaping, alongside ecological enhancements to deliver biodiversity net gain.
“The development will have good connectivity to the heart of the town and all the facilities and amenities which the town has to offer.”
Further information
- The Harrow House outline planning application P/OUT/2024/03253 is on the Dorset Council website
